ALTHOUGH patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome have had successful surgery for atrial septal defect,1 limb amputation,2 and thoracoplasty,3 the disease has an historical reputation for both hemorrhagic tendency and wound disruption.4 Uncontrolled gastrointestinal hemorrhage and wound separation have occurred after appendectomy,5 but there has been no previously reported experience with attempted gastric resection. The patient with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome underwent subtotal gastrectomy with gastrojejunostomy for simultaneously obstructing and bleeding duodenal ulcer following three weeks conservative medical management. Her major surgical tolerance to abdominal, orthopedic, and dental procedures is the purpose of this report.

Report of a CaseA 28-year-old single white woman was hospitalized in March 1966 with a two-week history of intermittent nausea, emesis, and burning epigastric pain. On the day of admission, the vomitus was blackish in appearance.She was the first-born child of apparently normal parents. They have been unwilling to undergo specific examination